Hanajima and the Lavender Dress Shop

The Spring Island we came to actually turned out to be a small archipelago.

"Hanajima is made up of one big island sounded by four smaller islands.
All five islands are connected by bridge and also a ferry service that runs from 5am to 10pm."

Robin read in the brochure.

We had docked the Going Merry.

When we walked out of the harbor we were greeted with girls throwing flower petals wearing leis and flowers in their hair.

"Welcome to Hanajima 3" They say putting leis around our necks and handing us brochures.

"The Main Island, Hanajima, is famous for its botanical gardens out side of town. The town itself has many trendy designer shops and resort hotels…"

"Designer shops!" I'm delighted and excited by this "Squee! I can finally go shopping."

"The Island to the west of Hanajima, Sakurajima, is Famous for its Cherry Blossom Trees which bloom year around in this area. Also Sakurajima has many healthy hot spring baths."

Choppers eyes light up "Cherry Blossom trees! I've never seen real Cherry Blossom tress before. I've always wanted to ever since Doctor Hiruluk told me about them."

Robbin smiles down at Chopper. "Well then Doctor san, we'll have to go see them while taking in the hot springs."

"Yay!" Chopper beams

Robin continues

"The island to the south west of Hanajima, Fujishima, is famous for it wisteria arches that line the streets and covers the sides of the islands numerous restaurants. Note: this month is Fujishima's outdoor food festival and carnival featuring famous dishes forom each of the islands restaurants"

"Famous dishes?" quips Sanji

"FOOD FESTIVAL!" Drools Luffy

The Island to the south west of Hanajima, Yurijima, Is famous for its fragrant Lily garden and it's community of artisan woodcarvers and carpenters.

"Ooh! Maybe I can get some wood and tools for repairs on the Going Merry." Says Ussop

The final island to the northwest of Hanajima, Barajima, is famous for its extensive rose garden and rose bush maze garden. It's also home to Kitsune Shrine which seals a powerful White Nine Tale Fox Demon. Also, Bara Temple, located high in the hills of Barajima, houses a sect of fighting monks who have developed a special form of marshal arts using the thorny vines of roses and a powerful and deadly weapon.

"Heh. Fighting with flowers? Gimmie a break." Scoffs Zoro.

Well it certainly seemed like these islands had something for everyone.

"Let's stay for a week or so." I suggest. "It's been awhile since we took a break."

"I don't mind." Says Zoro "What do you think Captain?" turning to Luffy.

But Luffy wasn't standing where he had been.
We all look around to see Luffy running off down the street.

"WooHoo! Food Festival!"

"Of course." I sigh "So I guess there's no objection then?"

There was no objection and everyone went their separated ways to explore.

…

"Yay! Shopping, shopping." I sing as I swing my bags happily. "The clothes in these shops are so cool and trendy."
As I'm walking down the street a shop catches my eye as I pass.
"Hm?"

It's purple, I notice. More specifically lavender.
"Kinda sticks out doesn't it?"

I look closer to see it's a dress shop.
I look at the dresses on the mannequins in the window.
"Wow. These dresses are really cute."

Unconsciously I find myself walking inside.

"Welcome" Comes the friendly bubbly voice of the shop attendant. "How are you today?"

"Um…good." I smile.
I look around at all the beautiful dresses.
"This place as some really cute and pretty designs." I comment

"Yes." Beams the attendant "This is Hanajima's best dress maker and shop. Are you looking for anything specific? I'm sure whatever event you have in mind you'll find the prefect dress for it here."

"Um well…"

Specific…event hu?

> "There is that one special event we need a nice dress for…"
Yes there is that…
"Well…" I start blushing "I am sort of looking for something for a…special occasion."

The shop attendant smiles. "Tell me what you have in mind."

…

I try on dozens of dress.
All of them where beautiful, cute, trendy and looked great on me.
I look at myself in the mirror after trying another one on.
"Wow! This is sooo cute." I smile

"Yes it is. It looks so good on you." Beams the attendant.

"I love it! But…" I sigh and shake me head.

> "Nope. Not the one."
I'm afraid not. Finding the right dress was harder than I thought.

"That's ok." Smiles the attended "We'll just keep looking."

"Wow, you're being a good sport about this. Other people would have gotten frustrated by now."

"Don't be silly." The girl's bright smile never wavers "This occasion is one of the most important occasions in a woman's life. Everything has to be prefect. You have to go with what feels right in your heart."

I smile "Thanks."

Suddenly someone comes though the door with their arms stacked full of fabric bundles.
"Cynthia dear give me a hand." A woman's voice calls from behind the column of fabric
The shop attendant, who I now know is named Cynthia, rushes over to help the woman. "Mistress!"
The woman dumps the fabric into the arms of the girl. Cynthia staggers and stumbles her way to a back room with the bundles.

"Whew." Sighs the woman. "I didn't think I was going to make it." She pulls a cigarette out of somewhere and lights up.

I look the woman over.
She was and older woman, though she still looked young you could see wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. She had a sort of regal air and posture. She was tall wispy and lanky with a slight figure. Her hair was jet black and worn up in a rather elaborate stylish twist held by an ornate clasp. She wore a clingy violet dress that glittered when she moved.
The woman looked stern a bit intimidating and not the least bit friendly.
She looks at me and I seem to shrink.

Cynthia comes back saving me from her gaze. "Wow Mistress you got some wonderful fabric this time." The girl beams

"Yes… you wouldn't believe what that old geezer expected me to pay for them at first. It took me forever to get it to a reasonable price."

Cynthia turns to me. "This is Mistress Murasaki. She's the owner, dressmaker and designer of this shop."

Mistress Murasaki gives me a sort of graceful waving gesture with her arm and back of her hand the way you see royalty and other aristocrats do. "How do you do."

It made me want to curtsy or something. "H-how do you do."

Cynthia presses her hands together and bounces up on her toes. "Oh Mistress. Maybe you can help this girl." the girl is so bubbly and perky that it was a bit unsettling. It totally counteracted the personality of the shop Mistress. "She's looking for a dress for that special occasion."

Mistress Murasaki smiles.

She was beautiful when she smiled though; the smile was a mysterious sort of smile. It made her look less stern but more cunning and ominous. "Oh? Is that so? How wonderful for you."

I manage a nervous smile.

Mistress Murasaki walks over to me and takes my face in her long thin fingers and tilts my face to look up at her.
She looks my face over turning my head this way and that.
Mistress Murasaki runs the back of her hands over my cheek.
"You have a pretty face." She tells me "Your skin has a nice complexion. Very smooth and silky."

I blush "T-thank you." It was all thanks to Sanji's special drink for smooth skin.

Murasaki takes my hand and twirls me around once.
She steps back and looks me over rubbing her chin. "Hmm."
After thinking a moment she speaks. "Tell me about your lover"

I'm a bit surprised "Hu?"

"Your lover." She says "What's he like? Tell me."

"Sanji?" I blink "Well…" what could one say about Sanji?
"He's very sweet and considerate…very kind." I laugh "He can be a bit of a dork sometimes very silly. He's really nice and friendly towards pretty girls, a total flirt, but when it comes to other guys he's totally brash and antagonistic. He's extremely chivalrous and heroic."

Mistress Murasaki smiles "A romantic."

"Yes very much so." I nod smiling "A hopeless romantic. He gets it from his parents. His mother and father were so in love…Ah. Oh...um..." I stop at that. I might have said too much…

Murasaki gives me a sweet smile "How very sweet."
She goes back to looking me over. "Describe him for me. What does he look like?"

"Um…well he's tall and kind of skinny. He has these long legs and…"

"How tall?" Mistress Murasaki interrupts

"Um well…" I show the height with my hand "Maybe a good head taller than me."

She nods

I go on. "He's kind of skinny but he sort of has broad shoulders…"

"Pretty boy face?" Murasaki asks

"More…handsome that pretty." I say "He has longish blond hair that covers one side of his face…when he's not acting like a dork, he looks kind of cool and really hot."

Cynthia giggles "He sounds so cool. I'm a bit jealous."

I give a grinning laugh.

"Yes, yes. Very good." Mistress Murasaki walks around me looking me over some more. "I think I have just the thing for you."

Cynthia clasps her hands together "Ooh, do you Mistress?"

"Yes." and with that Mistress Murasaki stalks to the back room.
A moment later she comes out with a dress.

Cynthia claps her hands and bounces up and down. "Oooh Mistress, that's prefect. I should have thought of that one sooner."

It all happened so fast.

Cynthia and Mistress Murasaki had me striped out of the dress I had been trying on and into the new one faster than you could say 'Going Merry Go'. I was spun around and the wind was squeezed out of my as a sash was tied tightly around my waist. Suddenly I was pulled a new direction and sat down in a chair. Cynthia took of my shoes and put on some pumps that matched the dress. They were very cute and had straps that tied around my ankles. While Cynthia did my shoes Mistress Murasaki pulls sheer silky gloves onto my hands. They flared out and tied with a ribbon at the wrist. I was then pulled up by both of them and flung in front of the mirror.

I was stunned at what I saw.

> "Oooh! It's prefect. I love it I love I love it!

It was a beautiful dress, a very cute sleeveless short dress going down to my knees. The skirt was fluffed out by pleated lace underneath and did that cool flaring thing when I spun around. It was pearl white silk with a white satiny sash that hung around the hem by red wine silk roses. A satin wine sash wrapped around my waist and tied in a big bow in the back.

"It's prefect." I breathe

"Of course it is." Says Mistress Murasaki, "It was made for you."

"Hu?"

But before I could say anything more, the dress was off and I was back in my regular clothes.
While Mistress Murasaki took care of my payment, Cynthia folded up the dress and put it and the shoes in boxes for me.

"Now then." Mistress Murasaki handing me the boxes. "Go and show the dress to the tailor who runs a small men's clothing shop on Lilly Street. Tell him I sent you."

"Hu?"

She smiles "You're going to need something for that handsome young gentleman of yours that goes with the dress." She winks at me.

I smile and thank her.

They see me to the door.

I wave back at them as I walk down the street with my new wedding dress.

---

Hana-jima - Flower Island
Sakura-jima- Cheery Blossom Island
Fuji-shima- Wistreia Island
Yuri-jima- Lilly Island
Bara-jima- Rose Island
Murasaki- Lavender